Does Maine count votes for undeclared write-in candidates in state and federal elections? | Fact brief

In state and federal elections, Maine doesn’t count write-in votes for anyone who didn’t file a declaration of candidacy.

Votes for undeclared write-ins are recorded as blanks, but other votes on the ballot remain valid. 

Blank votes still count toward the total ballots cast. In Maine’s 2026 2nd Congressional District race, preliminary results showed 123 votes for declared write-ins and 6,017 blanks. Because those votes count toward the total, no candidate reached a majority, requiring a ranked-choice runoff.

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Municipal elections have different rules. Towns and cities may require write-in candidates to declare, but even those that do must count undeclared write-ins if no candidate appears on the ballot or a nominee withdraws. 

Municipalities without that requirement also must count undeclared write-ins if they outnumber a listed candidate’s votes. Clerks are not required to count votes for fictional or dead people.